I scrub a hand over my face. I need to stop checking her out. Emilio’s been on my ass all week to focus on the field and yeah, we kicked ass tonight, but I didn’t bring my A game and she’s the cause of it.
I’ve stayed away from her all week, avoiding her in the hallways like a fucking coward. It was risky, especially if she decided to whine to Kemp about it, but she stayed quiet like I knew she would. Which makes her all the more intriguing. She didn’t rat me out and land me in detention. She didn’t beg for attention like other girls would have after being on the receiving end of my cold shoulder.
No. She kept her head down and acted like I didn’t even exist. No chance glances my way. No longing looks.
I don’t know what it is about her but I can’t get her out of my head and it pisses me right the fuck off. I thought if I avoided her it would lessen my attraction to her, but seeing her now makes me realize that was a big fucking failure. If anything, I want her more. I want her as consumed with thoughts of me as I am with her.
It’s becoming an obsession.
What am I doing to myself? I pull out a cigarette and light it up. I take one deep pull, holding the smoke in until my eyes burn before I release it. Fuck. I toss the cigarette out the window and then shove the smokes into the glove box before Dom sees. If either he or Emilio realize I still carry a pack on me, they’ll both have my ass.
You can’t be a star wide receiver and a smoker. The two don’t go hand in hand. But damn if I don’t want to smoke my way through the entire pack right now.
Dominique’s parents own the cabin we’re staying in. It’s the nicest one out here. Two stories tall, it has four bedrooms and four bathrooms making it more of a vacation home than a cabin. Dom comes from money—enough to rival even Gerald Ulrich—and while the fucker may hate it, it does have its perks. We stay here at least once a month. It’s nice to get away from things. Or it would have been if everyone else didn’t have the same idea this weekend.
I glare at Henderson and Allie once more before slipping on a pair of mirrored aviators and following my boys. I don’t care that it’s late. No one is gonna say shit to me about the sunglasses.
The clearing is packed with people illuminated by firelight. Most hang out next to their cars, or in small clusters by the fire. No one speaks to me and everyone gives me and my boys a wide berth as we make our way toward our cabin.
A few guys I recognize from the football team are stupid enough to nod in my direction as if to say sup?
I don’t reciprocate the gesture. I might talk to some of these assholes on the field when I have to, but I sure as shit am not going to tolerate them off the field. I am not one of them. Never will be and sure as shit don’t want to be. They don’t take the game seriously. It’s all fun and games for them but for us, for me, Dom, and Emilio, football is life. We live, breathe, and sleep football.
All three of us have plans to go pro and we’ve all earned scholarships at division-one schools. It’s a big part of why we don’t hang out with the team. We can’t afford to get sucked into their bullshit.
Football has to come first.
A group of bikini-clad juniors walk toward me. Emilio slows his steps a few paces ahead while Dom reaches the cabin porch and disappears inside. Beers in hand and wide grins on their faces, the girls sway their hips and offer flirtatious looks and stupid giggles.
I stifle a groan. At school, these chicks usually just give me googly eyes but leave me be unless I approach them, but I can tell they’ve already had some booze.
One of them is particularly brave. “Hey, Rome. You gonna party with us tonight?” she calls out.
At the mention of my name, I see Allie’s head jerk in my direction. That’s right, pretty girl. I’m here. I don’t bother hiding my smirk. “Maybe.” I holler back to the girl, wanting to gauge Allie’s reaction. She scowls and turns away while the bikini chick giggles. Fucking giggles. I swear these girls get stupider each year, but I eye her rack anyway. Stupid or not, she’s got a good one.
Maybe a quick fuck will get Allie out of my head?
“Come find me later,” she says and I give her a noncommittal grunt.
I need to get laid, but the idea of fucking her doesn’t pique my interest. Allie on the other hand… Fuck.
Inside the cabin, Dom flicks on all the lights and we each throw our stuff in our respective rooms. Our cabin is off limits to everyone outside of our group. We’ve been known to bring a few girls back for the night but our cabin isn’t one of the open ones for partiers.
“I see your girl is here,” Emilio comments with a shit-eating grin when I make my way back to the porch. I accept the beer he offers me and my eyes track Allie as she follows Henderson over to a group of his skater friends.
My hand clenches around my beer and I clench my jaw. The fucker smiles at her as he leans down to whisper something in her ear.
“I don’t have a girl,” I say.
That earns me a grunt from Dom. “Then why are you eye-fucking her?” he asks.
I flip him off with my free hand. “You can’t see my eyes, asshole. I’m not even looking in her direction.”
“Liar,” Emilio adds. “Just fuck her and get it out of your system already.”
I roll my eyes, not that he can see it. “I’m not interested in fucking her. I— ”
“Right. You want to be a dick and toy with her, that it? You need a new pet project to focus on?”
“What the hell is your problem, man?” I flick up my aviators and glare at him.
Emilio laughs but there’s an edge to his voice. “Nothing. You do you. Fuck her. Don’t fuck her. I don’t care. Just make up your mind already so we can enjoy the damn weekend. I’m too tired for your games so whatever you have planned, leave me out of it.”
“Count me out, too,” Dom adds. He leans back in one of the wooden porch seats, his legs wide and a beer in hand, pretending like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “We agreed we’d focus on our futures. You don’t have time to be chasing tail. Get laid. Don’t get laid.” He shrugs. “I don’t really care. But you were off today and you know it. She’s in your head, so do what you need to do to get her out. If that means playing one of your mind games with her, so be it. But we’re not backing you this time around.” He tips back his beer.
I grind my teeth together. “Fine.” Assholes. We’ve always messed around with the same girls in the past. It made things fucking convenient, but whatever. I didn’t need them to get what I wanted out of Allie.
Emilio downs his beer before reaching for a new one. “I’m going to go find myself a piece of ass. I earned it after tonight’s game. I’ll catch up with you two later.”
He jogs down the steps and heads straight for the bikini girls, throwing his arms around two of them. I won’t be surprised if both end up in his bed tonight. Emilio’s been known to enjoy his fair share of threesomes and even the occasional foursome.
“I’m surprised his dick hasn’t fallen off yet with how many holes he sticks it in,” Dom says.
I lift a brow. “Like you’re one to talk.”
He shrugs. “I’m taking this year easy. Focusing on what’s important.” I follow his gaze and catch him staring at Kasey Henderson. He tracks her movements like a lion hunting its prey.
“You want Henderson’s little sister?”
He shrugs but doesn’t take his eyes off her.
“Dude. She’s a freshman.”
Another shrug.
“Whatever. If you want jailbait, go for it. You’ve got two months before she’s off limits so I suggest you work fast.”
He grins. “I’m always up for a challenge.”
Allie
He’s here. I don’t know why I assumed he wouldn’t be. Maybe because of the game? He doesn’t seem the social type apart from the two guys I met earlier this week. He sticks to Dom and Emilio and they have a bit of a fearsome threesome going on. No wonder everyone calls them the Devils. They’re always together, and I haven’t miss
ed the fact that everyone else seems to give them a wide berth. They’re popular, sure, but it’s almost like they’re unwilling participants in the game that is high school social hierarchy.
Rulers who don’t really want to rule.
I haven’t made friends at Sun Valley High—at least none aside from Aaron, but I’ve heard the whispers in the halls when those three walk by. Everyone seems to want to get their hands on one of the Devils. I don’t even think the girls have a preference between the three.
Aaron hands me another beer and I gratefully accept it before noticing Emilio heading my way with a lopsided grin on his face. His arms are wrapped around two girls. One a leggy blonde with a bright red bikini top, the other a brunette with a black bikini and a pair of cut-off shorts. Don’t these two realize it’s cold? It can’t be more than fifty degrees outside. Fall is upon us and winter is fast approaching but these two don’t seem to have gotten the memo.
“Yo, vanilla. How’s it going?” Emilio calls out across the fire. I hate that nickname and I’m almost positive he and Roman use it just to get a rise out of me.
I force a tight smile and lift my beer in greeting. “It’s going,” I say, hoping he’ll turn his attention back to the two girls beside him. They’re running their hands all over him and one is actively trying to suck on his neck but she’s just a few inches too short to reach and he doesn’t seem inclined to accommodate her.
“Tonight, stop by our place.” He turns and points with his beer to the monstrosity of a cabin behind him. “Alright?”
“Why does he want you to go to his cabin later?” Aaron whispers beside me. “I thought you weren’t into any of the Devils?”
“I’m not. And who knows. I don’t get these guys.”
Before I can answer Emilio, Aaron decides to do it for me. “She’s got plans tonight,” he says, throwing an arm around my shoulders. There’s a possessiveness to his touch and I’m not sure how to feel about it. I like Aaron. He’s nice and he’s cute, but I just got out of a relationship. I’m not looking to dive into another one, and Aaron seems the relationship type.
Emilio’s eyes narrow and laser in on the contact.
I cringe.
“Maybe later, then?” he says.
I can hear the bite in his tone, but I don’t know if it’s directed at me or Aaron. “Sur—”
“Nah. Sorry, man. She’s busy all weekend.” He drags out the word “all,” and without saying anything else he’s sunk a heavy amount of innuendo into that one sentence.
I turn to him with a confused expression, but he doesn’t seem to be paying me any attention. His eyes are narrowed and there’s a triumphant look on his face as he and Emilio glower at one another. Like he’s won something. Like he’s won me.
I’m not some prize in these guys' pissing contest. Whatever issue they have with one another, I don’t want any part of it.
As unassuming as I can, I shrug out from under Aaron’s arm and stand up. “I’m going to explore a bit. I’ll catch up with you later.” He scowls but nods, and I turn to head in the opposite direction from him and Emilio.
I make it twenty feet when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I’m surprised I even have cell reception out here. I check the screen and release an audible groan when I see who the message is from.
Ryker: Come on, A. I miss you. Stop icing me out over something stupid.
Anger bubbles up inside of me and before I can talk myself out of it, I message him back.
Me: You broke up with me the day my mom died!
Those three little dots appear and I stare at them as I wait for his response. But instead of another text, my phone rings in my hand.
Ryker.
“Chingada madre!”
Do I really want to talk to deal with him right now? As I stare at the illuminated screen trying to decide, the ringing stops, saving me from having to make a decision. But then it starts right back up again. I must be a glutton for punishment because on the fourth ring, I answer.
“What do you want, Ry?” I ask.
I walk toward the back of Aaron’s cabin and step onto the back patio. Thankfully, no one else is out here so I claim a spot on a wooden bench and lean back, waiting for Ryker to respond.
He’s quiet for a second and it’s as if I can hear the gears turning in his head. Ryker was always good at that. Finding the right words to say to calm me down. Looking back, I can think of at least a dozen instances when he manipulated me into forgiving him for one thing or another. He was never a good boyfriend. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that.
I finish the beer in my hand and since Ryker still hasn’t said anything, I dip inside the cabin through the rear entrance in search of something stronger. I’m going to need it for the conversation I’m about to have.
“Baby,” he breathes out, longing in his voice. I roll my eyes and spot a stray bottle of tequila. I swipe it and pour a shot into a red cup before adding in some Sprite as a mixer.
“Don’t ‘baby’ me,” I tell him, taking a healthy swallow of my new drink. “I can’t believe what you did, Ry. I can’t…” I choke on my words, unable to force them out as the tequila burns down my esophagus, making me cough. I probably should have taken a smaller sip. I give myself a few seconds, take another drink because, yes, I am a glutton for punishment. “You hurt me.” I don’t know why I’m saying this. Maybe a part of me wants him to understand just what he did to me. Maybe then he’ll finally leave me the heck alone. “You hurt me when I was already hurting.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “I know, baby. I know. I’m sorry. Okay? I fucked up. I was drinking and I wasn’t thinking straight. Fuck.”
I can hear him pacing on the other end as I step back outside and reclaim my spot on the bench.
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth. For once in your life, Ry. Can you just be honest with me?” I still don’t know the full story. I know he cheated on me with Adriana but I don’t know any of the details and I don’t know why he broke things off between us the way he did. Ryker was an asshole, but until then, he’d never been cruel.
Another curse. “Baby, it’s not that simple. Adriana, she came on to me and at first I thought she was you.” His words are rushed. “You’ve got to believe that. I would never—”
“You expect me to believe that?” Is he kidding? Does he really think I’m that stupid? I seethe. “Ry, I’m not an idiot.”
He groans. “I know. I know. But it’s the truth. I was wasted, babe. And I didn’t mean to break up with you.”
I snort. “Oh really? Then what did you mean when you texted me—the same day my mom died I might add—saying, ‘I think we should see other people’. Huh? How is that anything other than breaking up with me?”
There’s a loud bang on the other end of the line like maybe he hit something.
“Look, I’m not proud of this, okay. And I didn’t know your mom had died when I sent it. Adriana told me you found out about us. That you were going to dump me. I just”—he sighs—“I was stupid and I wanted to break things off with you first before you turned around and ended things with me.”
Wow. Just wow.
What an asshole.
He’s quiet for a beat and I take another drink from my cup. The alcohol burns and I relish the pain. My throat tightens so I take another drink, eager to chase away the ache forming in my chest because it still hurts and I hate that. I hate that he still has any sort of hold over me.
“I loved you,” I tell him, my voice cold.
“Baby, I love you, too. So much.”
I shake my head even though he can’t see the movement. “No, Ry. Loved. I loved you. I don’t anymore. Not after what you did.”
“Allie, baby. Please. Don’t be like this. We can fix this. I know we can.”
“Nope.” The ‘p’ makes a popping sound to emphasize my decision. Another drink and my cup is empty. I set it aside and lean back, relishing the slight spinning my head is doing right now. “I
might have been able to get past the cheating if you’d been honest with me. I was that invested.” He’d been my first kiss. My first love. The guy I lost my virginity to. Maybe that was why I’d put up with so much for so long. Not anymore. I deserved better. I knew that. “But Ry, you dropped me when I needed you the most. There’s no coming back from that. Stop texting me. Stop calling. I’m not going to forgive you. Not for that.”
A movement to my left draws my attention and I spot Roman leaning against a tree, staring at me. His face is blank, but he’s removed his aviators, giving me a glimpse of his dark brown eyes. There’s fire in his gaze, and I shiver. When he sees I’ve spotted him he steps forward and sits beside me.
He puts a hand out, silently asking for my phone. I frown, but what the heck? I hand it to him.
He lifts the phone to his ear and says in a gruff voice, “Listen to her. Stop calling. Stop texting. You two are done. Got it?”
“Who the fuck are you?” I hear Ryker bite out.
“Your replacement.” Roman deadpans. He hands me back my phone after he ends the call. It starts ringing almost right away but I silence it and shove it in my back pocket. He offers me his beer and I take it. I tilt the bottle back to my lips, letting the cool liquid slide down my suddenly dry throat.
My vision blurs for a second but I blink fast to clear it and hand the beer back to him. Heat rushes up my neck and I can feel the effects of the alcohol kicking in even more now. Good.
I don’t want to be sober. Not tonight.
Neither of us say anything after that. Both content to gaze up at the starless night sky. Roman takes a few pulls from his beer bottle and I watch as his Adam's apple bobs with each swallow.
When the seconds turn to minutes, I feel my cheeks go numb and my head begins to swim. I’ve always been a lightweight. Drinking and partying was never really my thing. I hadn’t expected the liquor to hit me this quickly, though I can’t say I regret that it has and I’m already wishing I had more.
Wicked Devil: An Enemies to Lovers, High School Bully Romance (Devils of Sun Valley High Book 1) Page 5
